Press and Media Information

ISPD Overview:

The International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis (ISPD) was founded in 1996 to address the need to advance the medical practice and science of prenatal diagnosis and therapy by bringing together a global multidisciplinary group of medical and scientific professionals with interests and expertise in a diverse array of clinical and research aspects of prenatal diagnosis and fetal care. While we focus on all areas relevant to this field, we have a unique focus and expertise on reproductive and prenatal genetic screening and how this aspect of care integrates with other disciplines of prenatal diagnosis.

The Society was formally launched in 1996 by a smaller group of internationally recognized experts and has gradually grown to a global society with a membership of more than 400 professionals from multiple disciplines, such as prenatal and perinatal care providers, medical geneticists, basic and translational scientists, genetic counselors, laboratory directors, ultrasonographers, and ethics professionals. The Society’s vision is that evidence-based practice and culturally sensitive preconception and prenatal screening, diagnostics and therapy shall be available to all families. We promote this vision by working towards our mission of promoting the health of children, their mothers and their families by advancing the science and practice of genetics and fetal care worldwide.

Our goals are: (1) to advance the science of all aspects of preconception and prenatal genetics, screening, diagnosis and therapy; (2) to promote knowledge of preconception and prenatal genetics, screening, diagnosis and therapy globally; (3) to advocate the ethical practice of evidence-based preconception and prenatal genetics, screening, diagnosis and therapy; and (4) to encourage communication of information and experience among members and with the public. Towards these goals we organize annual international conferences and are developing web-based education content that covers all aspects of prenatal diagnosis. We also develop and disseminate opinion statements and guidelines on various aspects relevant to the field of prenatal diagnosis and therapy.

ISPD’s scientific journal is Prenatal Diagnosis, and we also disseminate information relevant to the members and the specialty through web-based news content and a regular newsletter. The Society houses six special interest groups focusing on Ethics of Reproductive Testing and Fetal Therapy, Fetal Therapy, Genetic Counseling, Imaging in Pregnancy, Laboratory Techniques, and Prenatal Screening.

The Society also has an International Federation with as objective to stimulate, support, and promote education, research, and knowledge in the field of prenatal diagnosis worldwide and connect with interested local societies and their members across the globe.

We are committed to educating all stakeholders about our specialty and can provide information and scientific expertise for the media upon request.